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In early pregnancy, fetal skin wounds can heal quickly and undergo a transition period from scarless healing to scar formation. The aim of the present study was to identify potential biomarkers associated with scarless repair of cleft lips, in order to determine the intrinsic factors leading to scar formation in embryonic tissue. A stable model of cleft lip was established using microsurgery by constructing a wedge‑shaped cleft lip‑like defect in fetal rats at gestational age (GA) 16.5 and GA18.5. The GA16.5 and GA18.5 groups were used to model scarless healing and scar formation, respectively. The fetuses were returned to the uterus following surgery, then removed 72 h after the procedure. Macroscopic observation of the cleft defect and histological examination were carried out. Reverse transcription‑quantitative (RT‑q) PCR and parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) were used to detect mRNA and protein expression levels, respectively. The upper‑left lip completely healed 72 h after surgery in the GA16.5 group of fetal rats. However, this was not the case in the GA18.5 group. Histological examination indicated new follicles visible under the epidermis of the scarless group (GA16.5). Scarring was visible on the upper‑left cleft lip wound of the fetal rats in the GA18.5 group. The expression of some growth and pro‑inflammatory factors, including TNF‑α, were also different between two groups. Label‑free quantification was used to identified differentially expressed proteins and five differentially expressed proteins (Smad4, Fabp5, S100a4, S100a8 and S100a9) were identified. The relative expression of these molecules at the mRNA and protein levels were measured using RT‑qPCR and PRM. These molecules may represent potential biomarkers for the scarless repair of fetal rat cleft lip wounds.

This article, titled "[Retracted] Downregulation of let-7b promotes COL1A1 and COL1A2 expression in dermis and skin fibroblasts during heat wound repair," was published in Molecular Medicine Reports in 2016. However, it has since been retracted by the editor due to concerns raised by a reader. The data presented in the article were found to be strikingly similar to data from other articles written by different authors at different research institutes. The authors were asked for an explanation but did not respond. The editor apologizes for any inconvenience caused. [Extracted from the article]

Camurati-Engelmann disease (CED) is a rare autosomal dominant bone disorder caused by a mutation in transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1). The present study aimed to identify a Chinese family with suspected CED based on the clinical symptoms, including pain in extremities, waddling gait, muscle weakness, cortical thickening of the diaphysis of the long bones, and sclerosis of the skull, facial bone, and pelvis. Molecular analysis revealed the presence of the p.Glu169Lys (E169K) mutation in exon 2 of TGFβ1 in patients when compared with the controls. Therefore, the Chinese family was diagnosed with CED due to the presence of the E169K mutation. The present study emphasized the importance of clinical and genetic evidence for the diagnosis of CED. The data presented in the present study are of significance to clinicians, as well as genetic counselors, in the prenatal screening of CED.

Ganoderma lucidum has featured in traditional Chinese medicine for >1,000 years. Ganoderma polysaccharides (GL-PS), a major active ingredient in Ganoderma, confer immune regulation, antitumor effects and significant antioxidant effects. The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy and mechanism of GL‑PS‑associated inhibition of ultraviolet B (UVB)‑induced photoaging in human fibroblasts in vitro. Primary human skin fibroblasts were cultured, and a fibroblast photoaging model was built through exposure to UVB. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Aged cells were stained using a senescence‑associated β-galactosidase staining (SA‑β‑gal) kit. ELISA kits were used to analyze matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) ‑1 and C‑telopeptides of Type I collagen (CICP) protein levels in cellular supernatant. ROS levels were quantified by flow cytometry. Cells exposed to UVB had decreased cell viability, increased aged cells, decreased CICP protein expression, increased MMP‑1 protein expression, and increased cellular ROS levels compared with non‑exposed cells. However, cells exposed to UVB and treated with 10, 20 and 40 µg/ml GL‑PS demonstrated increased cell viability, decreased aged cells, increased CICP protein expression, decreased MMP‑1 protein expression, and decreased cellular ROS levels compared with UVB exposed/GL‑PS untreated cells. These results demonstrate that GL‑PS protects fibroblasts against photoaging by eliminating UVB‑induced ROS. This finding indicates GL‑PS treatment may serve as a novel strategy for antiphotoaging.